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Battered Women and Violent Crime: An Exploration of Imprisoned Women Before and After the Clemency Movement

Schneider, Rachel Zimmer

Abstract Details

2006, Doctor of Philosophy, University of Akron, Sociology.
When battered women kill their abusive partners they generally do so in self-defense. However, self-defense law never took women’s experiences with domestic violence into account. It was not until 1990 that certain states began to allow expert testimony on Battered Woman Syndrome in self-defense trials. Because of this change in law, several states granted clemency to small numbers of incarcerated battered women (Gagnè 1998). While the research on battered women who received clemency is minimal (Gagnè 1998; Beattie and Shaunessy 2000), there has been no research on the women who applied for clemency and were denied. Using one-on-one semi-structured interviews, this dissertation examined 18 battered women who applied for clemency in 1990 in a mid-western state. Findings indicated that the women’s lives prior to prison were filled with multiple types of abuse (often starting in childhood). The turning point to kill came when they felt it was kill or be killed and/or they feared for their children’s lives. During their time in prison they became active in domestic violence support groups which enabled them to apply for clemency. The twelve women denied clemency still remain in prison (except one woman who was paroled) serving life sentences and have become extremely active within the prison by starting different groups (i.e. yoga, choir, fund-raising for charities, and quilting groups). These women shifted their sense of self from victims to survivors and saw prison as a place of safety and freedom. However, this newfound sense of self clashed with the structure of the prison and because of this the women felt they were repeatedly victimized. The six women granted clemency struggled with having a felony conviction and found it affected employment and housing options, as well as their own sense of self-worth. Those without family support were more susceptible to criminal activity after prison and were more likely to report problems with substance abuse. The women struggled to reconnect with their children; however those relationships improved over time. Lastly, they viewed themselves as survivors and talked about teaching others (as well as themselves) how to live violence free.
Kathryn Feltey (Advisor)
250 p.

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Schneider, R. Z. (2006). Battered Women and Violent Crime: An Exploration of Imprisoned Women Before and After the Clemency Movement [Doctoral dissertation, University of Akron]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=akron1145283559

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Schneider, Rachel. Battered Women and Violent Crime: An Exploration of Imprisoned Women Before and After the Clemency Movement. 2006. University of Akron, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=akron1145283559.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Schneider, Rachel. "Battered Women and Violent Crime: An Exploration of Imprisoned Women Before and After the Clemency Movement." Doctoral dissertation, University of Akron, 2006. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=akron1145283559

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)